Patterns of Democracy：Government Forms and Performance in Thirty-Six Countries

InthisupdatedandexpandededitionofhishighlyacclaimedbookDemocracies,ArendLijphartoffersabroaderanddeeperanalysisofworldwidedemocraticinstitutionsthaneverbefore.Examiningthirty-sixdemocraciesduringthehalf-centuryfrom1945to1996,Lijphartarrivesatimportant--andunexpected--conclusionsaboutwhattypeofdemocracyworksbest.WhileconventionalwisdomsuggeststhatmajoritariandemocracieslikethoseintheUnitedStatesandGreatBritainaresuperiortoconsensualsystemslikethoseinSwitzerlandandIsrael,Lijphartshowsthisisnotso.Infact,consensualsystemsstimulateeconomicgrowth,controlinflationandunemployment,andlimitbudgetdeficitsjustaswellasmajoritariandemocraciesdo.And,consensusdemocraciesclearlyoutperformmajoritariansystemsonmeasuresofpoliticalequality,women'srepresentation,citizenparticipationinelections,andproximitybetweengovernmentpoliciesandvoterpreferences.Systematicallycomparingcabinets,legislatures,parties,electionsystems,supremecourts,and--forthefirsttimeinthisvolume--interestgroupsandcentralbanks,Lijphartdemonstratesthatthemoreconsensualademocracy,the"kinderandgentler"itiswhenaddressingwelfare,environmental,criminaljustice,andforeignaidissues.Thesefindingsareoffar-reachingimportnotonlyforcountriesdesigningtheirfirstdemocraticconstitutionsbutalsoforestablisheddemocraciesseekingpracticalapproachestoreform.